Machine for threading tape into articles



June 26, 1923. 1,460,195

G, M. EAMES ET AL I MACHINE FOR THREADING TAPE INTO ARTICLES Filed Aug. 25 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet l q INVENTORS WITNESSES. aa anzz'amas z ATTORNEY v June 26, 1923.

G. M. EAMES ET AL MACHINE FOR THREADING TAPE .INTO ARTICLES Filed Aug. 25 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,3: WQIM ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

June 26, 1923.

G. M. EAMES ET AL MACHINE FOR THREADING TAPE INTO ARTICLES g- 25 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Au WITNE BY JIm/QED ATTORNEY June 26, 1923. M60195 G. M. EAMES ET AL MACHINE FOR THREADING TAPE INTO ARTICLES Filed Aug. 25 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

53min W WITNESSES: INVENTORS BY Q/OIZZ 63% Z/ ATTORNEY Patented June 26, i923.

means untranstares araar @FFHQE.

GEORGE M..EA1IES, OF-IBRIDGEPORT, AND JOHN C. HINGE, .OFSTRATFORD, CONNECTI- CUT, ASSIGNORS TO THE SINGER BIIANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OFN'EW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR 'TI-IREADING TAPE INTO ARTICLES.

-Application filed August 25, .1919. Serial No. 319,720.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known "that we, Gnonen M. EAMES and JOHN C. Rinse, citizens of the United States, residing at Bridgeport and Strat iord, respectively, in the countyol' Fairiield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ma chines for Threading Tape into Articles, of which the following is a specification, refer ence being'hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

This inventionrelates toimprovements in machines for threading tape into buttons and like articles. i

The primary object of this invention is to provide a machine adapted to automatically perform the complete operation of threading short lengths of tape into articles in a manner permitting the ready "attachment, in a subsequent ojperationfot the threaded articlesto garments.

Another object of this invention is to provide in machines of this character means for automatically feeding the articles to threading position; to positively insure the alinement of the apertures inthe articles with the threading implements, andto sustain the articles against the oppositely directed thrusts of the threading implements.

The invention has for a further object to provide means for automatically feeding the tape across the path of movement of the threading implements. i

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for insuring the seizureoi the tape by the threading implements.

Also within the scope of this invention is the means provided for severing suitable lengths of tape; for ejecting the threaded article from threading position, and for directing the ejected article away from moving parts of the machine.

Another object of this invention is toprovide means for preventing relative move-- ,ment of the tape and articles of different thicknesses during the threading operation.

The present invention has also for its object to prevent the severing of tape in the absence of an article from threading position, thereby avoiding waste and possible clogging of the machine.

Other objects of the invention will be ap parent from the following description and claims.

relatively movable tape-gripping In a practical embodiment of the present invention, a machine is provided with reciprocating, hooked threading-implements adapted to draw the free ends of a short length of tape through the apertures of an article such as buttons, buckles and the like. order to automaticallyfeed the articles into threading position, the articles are placed in a receptacle of a hopper from wh ch leadsa chute adaptedto sustain the articles in superposed or-column formation. The hopper 1s rotatedby suitable connections with the driving shaft of themachine, and by means of a light spring bearing upon the lowermost article, the latter is caused to rotate with the chute of the hopper and upon article-registering. pins until the apertures ofthe article aline with and are entered by sald pins.

An article feed-slide isthen brought into operationto advance the reg-,

'istered articleto threading position. The

threadingimplements now move to enter the apertures in the articles and disengage the registering pins which are immediately retracted to their initial position beneath the chute. I

During the article penetrating movement, jaws are actuated to seize the end of the tape and draw it across the path of the threading implements. To insure that the-tape enters the hooks of the threading implements during the withdrawal movement of the latter, suitably actuated tape-positioning fingers engage the tape upon opposite sides and hold it againstthe shanks of the implements. A tapes'evering device now comes into operation and severs thetape at a distance from i one implement substantially equal to the distance that the end of the tape was drawn by the tape-gripping jaws past the other implement. As the implements draw or thread the tape through the apertures in the article, a tape-holding the tape between the apertures'ofjthe article and holds it against movement rela- 'tively thereto so as to insure that the free ends of the threaded tape areof substantially equal lengths. After the article is threaded, an article-ej ector engages the same and: thrustsit from threading position, a chute and a guard being provided to direct the article away from the moving parts of "the machine.

finger engages .seated upon the pin and fed to threading position, is the tape-guide lowered to permit the gripping-jaws to seize the tape.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation and partly in section of the present improvement as embodied in a machine. Fig. 2 is an enlarged top-plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, omitting the overhanging arm and with portions partly broken away to better illustrate the operating mechanism. F 1g. 3

is a sectional view substantially on the line 3'3, Fig. 1. Fig. i is a sectional view sub-' stantially onthe line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectional view substantially on the line of Fig.2. Fig. 6 is a side view in elevation of the article feed-slide and showing the registering pins. in threading position. Fig. 7 comprises separate views in perspective of the feed-slide,- the articlesupporting plate and the slide-bar carrying the article registering pins. Fig. 8 is a view in end elevation of the feed-slide and guide. Fig. 9 is a sectional view in elevation of the feed-slide and showing the registering-pins in retracted position beneath the chute. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the tape-guide and the ledgerblade of the severing-device. Fig. 11v is a detail perspective view illustrating the tape-holder in action during the threading of the article.

Referring to the drawings, the present improvement is embodied in a machine supported on a base .1 and comprising a bedplate 2 from which rises the hollow-stand ard 3 of the bracket-arm having a tubular overhanging arm 4, terminating in the head 5.

Journaled in suitable bearings provided in thebracket-arm is the main or driving shaft 6, carrying at one end a belt-wheel 7 and at its opposite end a shaft-flange 8 having a link 9 connection with a bar 10 vertically reciprocable in bearings provided in the head 5. At its lower end the bar 10 carries a pair of hooked threading-implements 11, in the present instance arranged substantially in parallelism. The driving shaft 6 is formed with offset cranks 12 and 13 connected by means of pitmen la and 15 with similar cranks 16 and 17, upon an ac tuating shaft 18 journaled in suitable bearings depending from the bed-plate 2.

Referring now more particularly to the means employed for automatically presenting the articles to the threading implements,

. an article hopper comprising a receptacle 19 and a chute 20 connected therewith is journaled for rotation upon its longitudinal axis in vertically alined bearings provided in lugs, as 21, projecting from the head 5. The article-hopper may be rotated by means of any well known connections with the driving shaft, those employed in the pres ent instance comprising a" belt-pulley 22 upon the chute 20, idler pulleys 23 (only one of which is shown) carried by a bracket 24 upon the bracket-arm, a belt-pulley 25 upon the driving shaft 6 and a belt 26 connecting said pulleys. Located within so as to be rotatable with the receptacle 19 is a sieve 27 having the outline of a truncated cone and formed with a plurality of apertures, as 28, of a size preventing entrance into the chute of articles larger than can be readily accommodated thereby. In order to agitate the articles passing into the chute 20, a stationary propeller-like member 29 is rigidly supported within the receptacle by a rod 30 passing through a central aperture in the sieve and adjustably secured by meansof a set-screw 31 upon a bracket 32 on the head 5. The relative rotation between the hopper and the member 29 agitates the articles and urgestheir entrance into the chute,-the articles being compelled to enter the chute singly owing to the narrowed throat 33 provided at the base of the receptacle. The chute 20 is shaped according to the class of articles to be threaded and in the present instance is shown cylindrical to accommodate flat buttons.

At its lower end, which is immediately above the bed-plate, the chute 20is formed with a longitudinal slot entered by a light spring 34 adapted to engage the lowermost of the articles supported by the chute in column formation. The function of this spring is to compel rotation of the article engaged thereby with the chute for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

I Secured upon the upper surface of the bed-plate 2 and in spaced relation with respect to each other are two supporting blocks 35 and 36 upon which are placed plates 37 and 38 overlapping the adjacent longitudinal edges of the supporting blocks to form guide-ribs. Slidingly mounted upon these guide-ribs is a slideblock 39 having-grooved guide-ways 10 and L1 fitted upon said guideribs. Depending from the slide-block are spaced, apertured lugs l2 suitably connected with one end of a link 41-3, of which the opposite end is connected with the free end of an arm a l projecting from a lateral sleeve 45 loosely ournaled upon a fulcrum-shaft 16 journaled in the lugs forming bearings for the actuating shaft 18. Supported so as to project laterally from the arm .41 1 is a roller 7 in constant engagement with a cam 48 upon the shaft 18, being held in contact with said cam by the action of-a suitably arranged spring 4-9. It is evident that rotation of the shaft 18 will,'by means ofthedescribed connections, reciprocate the slide-block 39 toward and from the path of movement of the threading implements. The slide-block 39 is provided with a longitudinalgroove in its uppersurface for a purpose later referred to. i

Overl-ying the slide-block '39 so as not to friotionally retard the reciprocation "of the latter is a stationary article-supportingplate 51 provided on its under side withwspacing lugs, as 52, secured to the bed-plate by screws, as ,53,which.also serve'to secure the forward ends of the supporting-blocks and 36. The,articlessupporting plate 51 is formed with adjacent slots, as ol extending to the forward edge thereof and with a third slot extending to the rear edge of said plate. An article feed-slide plate 56 is :adj ustably secured uponthe slide-block 39 by screws'as 57 ipassing through elongated apertures, as 58 l orined in the plate 556 and entering: :t-hreaded apertures in the slideblock 39. The plate 56vis provided with a central slot .59 overlyingpthe slot 55, and with twoslots 60. in yertica'l alineinent with the slots 5% in the articl supporting plate 5].. The forward or article engaging edge of the plate 56 is preferably shaped tocorrespond substantially with the contour of the articles to be threaded andfiin the present instance is arcuate.

An articleregistering-pin carrying slide 61 .is disposed within the groove 50 0f the slide-bloe'k 89 beneath the article-supporting plate 51and carries at its forward end two upwardly projecting article-registering pins, as 62. The pins 62 project upwardly through the adjacent slots 54 i of the article supporting plate andmayrproject into the slots ofthe feed-slide plate56. The rearward :end of the pin-carrying slidefil'in retracted position rests upon the cross-bar of a substantially 'U-shaped support 63 adjustablv secured by screws, as 64- upon the bedplate 2, said screws also passing through threaded apertures'in the supporting blocks and 36, andthrou-gh like apertures in the plates 37 and 38, thereby securing the rearward ends of the latter. Intermediate its ends the pin-carrying slide 61 is. provided with a'hoolroo projecting upwardly through the slot 55 in the article supporting plate and through the slot '59 in the feed slide plate. The 11001165 is connected by means of a coiled spring 66 with a hook 67 on an upwardly extending arm 68 on the support 63. The spring '(itl serves to hold the pin-carrying slide 61 against theunder surface of the supporting-plate 51anditenfds to hold theslide in retractedposition.

In their retracted positionras illustrated in lhzig. .9 of the drawings, the pins .62 are directly beneath the delivery "end. of "the chuteEdythloiverznost article in the chute,

"advance end is rounder.

when not "registered, resting upon said pins. Rotation o t' thesarticle with the chute brings the apertures ofthe former :into a lineinent withthe pins 62 whereupon the article drops by gnivity upon the article-supporting plate 51 with the pins62registering the apertures ofthe article. The cam 48 new acts to advance the feed-slide 56 which engages the pinned. or registeredvarticle and advances it to threading position as illustrated in Fig. Got thedrawings. It will be observed that the upper surface of the teed-slide 56 is in substantially the same plane as the lower edge of the chute 20ythereby serving during the feed of the article to aid the spring Set in supportingthe column of articles. The threading implements 11 now move downwardly to enter the apertures of the, articles and thereby depress'the pins, which action is permitted bythe clearance provided by the groove '50 ofithe slide-block 39. The pins, when clear of the article are immediately retracted by thespring 66'into'their initial position, the feed-slide 56 remaining however in its advance position until the slotted at 'il'for the entrance of the imple ments and ito'provide clearance for thetape of the threaded article when the latter ejected from threading position. as will hereinafter appear. The articlesupporting plates 69 and '1' (l are held in spaced relation by a block 72 and in spaced relation with respect'to the bed-plate 2 by a block 73, all of which are secured upon the bed-plate by means of screws, as 74.

A tape-supply is afforded by a spool 7 5 of I tape, supported upon a lateral arm 76 cured upon the bed-plate 2 by screws as 7'7.

From thespool, the tape is passed through tensioning pins as 78 into a tape-guide 79. This tape-gulde .1s pivoted near the rearward end thereof upon a pin 80 entering an aperture in ablock '81 secured by screws,

as 82, upon the arm 76. A guide 83 maintains 'the'tape-guidein a vertical plane duritspivot'al movements. The block 81 is provided witha transverse slot 84 entered by aitape-guide tilting-bar 85 of which the The bar 85 is adapted to be longitudinally reciprocated in the slot 84 and in a slot alined'therewith formed in a guide 87 suitably secured upon the bed-plate. A coiled spring 88 connected at opposite ends to the guide and the bar tends to hold the latter in retracted position clear of the tape-guide and deter mined by the pin 89 engaging the guide 87. The bar 85 is forcibly advanced to engage the tape-guide and swing the latter upon its pivotal support through the engagement thereof by one end of a two-armed lever 90, tulcrumed intermediate its ends upon the support 63 by means of a screw 91. The other end of the lever extends into the path of movement of the slide 61 and con sequently when the latter is retracted under the action. of the spring 66 as described, the bar 85 is advanced to lift the delivery end of the tape-guide. The advancing movement of the slide is limited by the engagement with the lever 90 of an adjusting screw 92, threaded into the arm 68. From this construction it is apparent that the position of the delivery end of the tape-guide is dependent upon the movement of the article registering pins inasmuch as the spring 66 is relatively stronger than the spring 88. In other words, iii no article is dropped-into register with the pins, then theieed-slide 56 moves idly, the pins remaining stationary by reason of the slots 60 provided in the teed-slide, consequently maintaining the delivery end of the tape-guide in raised position, When however an article is registered by the pins 62, the advancing movement of the pins under the action of the teed-slide upon the article permits the spring 88 to retract the bar 85 whereupon the delivery end of the tapeguide is promptly lowered by gravity.

Referring now more particularly to the tape-ieeding means, a slide-way is provided on the bed-plate 2 by parallel plates as 93, overhanging the edges of spacing bars, as 9st, which are together secured upon the bed-plate by screws, as 95. Mounted to reeiprocate in this slide-way is a slide-bar 96 transmitting actuation to the tape-feeding jaws. article-ejector, and the tape-positioning lingers. Upon the advance end of the slide-bar 96 is fulcrumed, by means of a screw 97, a two-armed lever, of which one arm 98 is adjustably connected by means of a link 99 with a vibratory arm 100 suitably tulcrumed upon the overhanging bracket-arm of the machine and vibrated ina well known manner from a cam 101. The free end of the other arm 98 of the two-armed lever forms one member of tape gripping jaws of which the cooperating member is formed by an car 102 upturned from the slide-bar 96. Adjacent the varm 98 of the lever, a pin 103 projects upwardly from the slide-bar 96. It will be understood that when the slide-bar is in its extreme retracted position, i. e., toward the right in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and the arm 100 is vibrated toward the left, then the first action thereof is to swing the lever 98-98 until it engages the pin 103 thereby opening the tape-gripping jaws. vFurther oscillation of the lever 9898 being prevented by the pin 103, the slide-bar 96 is bodily advanced until the open tape-gripping jaws are immediately in advance of the delivery end of the tape-guide 79 with the jaws upon opposite sides of the projecting end of the tape. The arm 100 now reverses its movement, first causing the lever 98-98 to swing on its pivot thereby closing the jaws to grip the tape therebetween. The continued movement of the arm 100 causes the slide-bar 96 to be retracted, consequently drawing the tape across the path of the threading implements into substantially the position indicated in Fig. 2.. The path of movement of the tape-gripping jaws is such that only when the delivery end of the tape-guide is in its lowered position will the jaws seize the tape. Consequently, as the delivery end of the tape-guide-is lowered onlywhen an article is delivered to threading position, the tape will not be fed in the absence of an article fromthreading position This feature is important owing to its function of preventing clogging of the machine under abnor malconditio'ns and also obviating waste of tape.

Fulcrumed upon the bed-plate 2 by means of a screw 104: is a tape-positioning arm 105 having at its free end spaced tapepositioning fingers, as 106 and intermediate its ends a cam-lug 107. The cam-lug 107 is adapted to bciengaged by a cam 108 rovided on the slide-bar 96 so that onthe advancing movements of the latter into tapegripping position, the fingers 106 are diverted against the action of a spring 109 out of the path of movement of the tapegripping jaws, one of which then engages the fingers to hold them indefiected posi tion. After the slide-bar 96 has been retracted sufiiciently to provide clearance for the cam-lug 107, the spring 109 acts to cause the fingers 106 to engage the tape upon opposite sides of the ascending threading implements and hold it against the shanks of the latter, thereby insuring the seizure of the. tape by the hooks of the implement. This position of the fingers is determined by a pin 109 engaging the arm 105.

Fulcrumed upon the shaft 416 is a knifecarrying arm 110 adapted to be actuated by a cam 111 on the shaft 18 and held thereagains't bythe action of a spring 112. Adjustably secured upon the knife-carrying arm 110 is a knife-blade 113 of which the severing edge is movable across the path of the tape and cooperates witha stationary or ledger-blade 114- suit'ably secured upon the block 81. The cam 111 is designed ,to permit the knife to operate when the tape gripping jaws have completed their tapedrawing movementand the plane of operation of the knife-blade i'spreferably spaced from the nearest threading implement a I distance substantially corresponding to the 7 distance that the free end of the tape was, drawn past the other implement by the tape-feeding means.

A tapeholding finger 115 is provided upon a vibrating arm 116 pivotal'ly mounted upon the machine frame by means of a screw 117. A spring 118 is suitably secured upon the arm 116 and is adapted to be in constant engagement with a cam- 119 upon the shaft18 by the action of a spring 120. The spring 118'is suifi ciently strong to cause elevation of the finger 115. but will yield under abnormal conditions. The function of the finger 1151 is to engage the tape, as shown, in- Fig; 11 of the drawings, be tween. the apertures oii'the article and hold the tape against bodily movement during the threading operation, thereby insuring that the freeends of the threaded tape are ofisubstantially equal lengths.

After the threading operation, as herein described, is completed and the slide-bar 96 is. again advancing the gripping-jaws, the free-end; otan articleejector 121, pivotally mountedv upon the slide-bar engages the threaded article and ej ectsit from threading positi'onu The ejector is normally held by a spring 122a'gainst a stop-pin 123on the 1 slide-bar; but as the" article advances into supporting plate51. A guard125 is suitably secured upon the block 81 and plate 70,

and actstoprevent the tape of the threaded article from being caught during the ejec tionthereofi p The sequence of operation of the several mechanisms of themachine is evident from the foregoingdescription. It may be added however that" the machine is adapted to thread in an entirely automatic manner, an article at each revolution of" the main-shaft, so that a single operator may have a number of these machines, in operation simultaneously, thereby greatly increasing the product at a comparatively low cost. It is to be alsounderstood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spiritian'd stripe of the invention.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention,what we claim herein is 1. A machine for threading tape into buttons comprising, in combination, t'hieading implements, means for feeding a button into threading position, means forfeeding a tape into threading position, means for severing a section of tape, and means for actuating said implements to threada severed section i i i rv oftape into said button.

. 2. Amachine for threading tape into buttons comprisingyin combination, hooked threading implements, a button-hopper,

means for feeding buttons from said hopper into threading position, a tape feeding device for presenting atape to said threading implements, and means for actuating said implements to automatically seize the tape and thread it into said buttons. 1 l

3. Amachine for threading short sections oftape into buttonsincluding, in combina-s tion, a button-hopper, means for feeding buttons from saidhopper into threading po- 1 sition, and means includ ng a plurality of,

hooked threading implements constructed and arranged to seize a, tape section, draw an end of said'tape section through a positioned. button and subsequently releasethe tape section. p I a o 1 4e. A machine for threading tape into'rbuttons and like articles comprising, in combination, threading implements, means for feeding an article i into threading position, means for feeding a'tape into threadingpd; sition, and means for preventingthe feed-mg of the tape in the absence of an articlefrom threading position, i i

machine for threading ,shortsec;

tions of tape into buttons including, in combination, tape-threading implements, means for actuating saidimplements means for holding a button in position for entrance by said implements, and means for feeding tape into position to be engagedby said implements for threadingv into said button.

6. Amachlne tor threadingshort sections of tape into buttonsincluding, in combina t on, tape-threading 1mplements,,means for actuating said implements, means for holdq ing a button in position forentrance by said implements, means for feeding tape into" position to he engagedbysaid. implements for threading into said buttons, and means forsevering thedesired' lengths of 'tape."

7; A machine for threading tape into-buttons including, in combination, tape-threading implements, means for: actuating said implements, means for holding a button in posit on for entrance by sa d implements, means for, feeding a tape lIiliO, position, to' be threaded into said button, and means for a holding thetape against bodily movement during the operation ofthreading saidtape into the button.

a Amachine a; th nding;v as into b t;

, tonsgincluding, in combination, tape-thread mg means, means for sustaining a button in threading position during the threading thereof, and means for engaging the threaded' button and ejecting the latter from threading position.

9. A machine for threading tape into buttons, including, in combination, a pair of threading implements, means for sustaining abutton-holder, an article registering pin,

and means for revolving the button-holder and a button carried thereby to impale a button upon said registering pin.v

11. In a-machine wherein the apertures of buttons and like articles are positioned for the entrance of a threading implement,

a hopper for said articles, an article registering pin, means for revolving said hopper,

and means for causing the lowermost article to revolve with the hopper to insure the entrance of said pin in an aperture of. the

article.

12. In a machine wherein the apertures of buttons and like articles are positioned for the entrance of a threading implement,

the combination with a reciprocating threading implement, of a hopperfor said articles,

an a'rticleregistering pin,'means carried by said hopper for revolving the article to cause said pin to engage an aperture thereof, and means for positioning the article in the path of movement of the threading implement. v

13. In a machine wherein the apertures of buttons and like articles are positioned for the entrance of a threading implement,

' the combination with a reciprocating threading implement, of an article registering pin adapted to enter an apertureln the article and to be disengaged therefrom by said threading implement, and means for actuating said pin to position the article in the path of the threading implement.

14. In a machine wherein'the apertures of buttons and like articles are positioned "forthe entrance of a threading implement,

the combination with a reciprocating threading implement, of an article registering pin adapted to enter an aperture in the article and to be disengaged therefrom by said threading implement, means for advancing said pin and article into threading position, and means for retracting the pin when disengaged from the article by said threading implement.

15. In a machine wherein theapertures -f buttons and like articles are positioned for the entrance of a threading implement,

the combination with a reciprocating threading implement, of an article registering pin adapted to enter an aperture in the article and to be disengaged therefrom by said threading implement, adapted to seat an article upon said pin, a slide-bar adapted to position the article in the path of the threading implement, and means for retracting the pin when disengaged fronithe article by said threading implement.

16. A machinefor threading taps into buttons and like apertured articles including, in combination, a plurality of threading implements, means for automatically feeding the articles into threading position, means for sustaining said articles during thethreading thereof, and means engaging the threaded articles and ejecting said articles from threading position.

17. In a machine for threading'tape into buttons and like apertured articles, in combination, a threading implement, a hopper adapted to sustain the articles in a column formation, means for axially rotating said hopper, and means for causing the lowermost button of said column to rotate with said hopper. v

18. In a machine for threading tape into buttons and like articles,. in combination,

a threading implement, a hopper compris- 1 ing an article-receptacleand an article-chute leading from said receptacle, of an article sieve located within said receptacle adapted to prevent choking of said chute by articles larger than can be readily accommodated thereby, and means for agitating the articles before entrance into said chute.

20. A machine for threading tape into buttons and like articles including, -in combination, tape-threading means, means "for feeding an article intothreading: position, a tape-guide, a tape-feeder, and means for holding said tape out of the path of operation of said tape-feeder in the absence of an article from threading position.

21. A machine for threading tape into buttons and like articlesincluding; inncombination, tape-threading implements, means for. reciprocating said implements, a tapea rotary hopper 22. A machine for threading tape into buttons and like articles, including, in combination, threading implements, means for reciprocating said implements, tape-feeding means, and means comprising spaced fingers operated from said tape-feeding means for positioning the tape in the path of movement of said threading implements.

23. A machine for threading tape into' eating said implements, tape-feedingmeans,

means for sustaining a button in threading position during the threading thereof, and means for engaging the threaded button and ejecting the latter from threading position. j I

25. A machine for threading tape into buttons and like articles including, in combination. tape-threading means, means for ejecting the threaded articles out of threading position, and a guard for preventing contact of the threaded tape with moving parts of the machine. 26. A machine for threading tape into buttons and like articles including, in combination, tape threading implements, means for reciprocating said implements. tapeteeding means, and means operated from said tape-feeding means for engaging the threaded articles to positively eject the latter "from threading position. a i

27. A machine for threading tape into buttons and like articles including, in combination, tape-threading means, means for feeding an article into threading position, and means for ejecting the threaded article out of threading position comprising a yielding ejector deflected out'of ejecting position during the feed of the article into threading position.

28. A machine for threading tape into buttons and like articles including, in combination, tape threading implements, means for reciprocating said implements, tapefeeding means comprising relatively movablejape-gripping jaws, a slide-bar for actuating said jaws, and an article ejector operated from said slide-bar, I i

29. A machine for threading tape into buttons and like articles including, in combination, tapethreading implements, means for reciprocating said implements, tapefeeding means comprising relatively movable tape-gripping jaws, a slide-bar for actuating said jaws, an article ejector pivotally sustained by said slide-bar, and a.

spring tending to yieldingly maintain said ejector in ejecting position.

30. In a machinefor automatically threading tape into buttons and like apertured articles, the combination with tape-threading implements, and means for actuating said implements, of means for holding a button against the penetrating thrust of said implements, a pivotally supported tapeholding finger adapted to engage the tape between the apertures of the article, a cam for actuating said tape-holding finger, and a spring interposed between the cam and finger to permit the latter to operate upon different thicknesses of articles.

31. A machine for threading tape into buttons and like apertured articles includlng, in combination, an article-registering pin adapted to engage an aperture of an article, means for feeding an article and the pin engaging the same from an initial into threading position, and means whereby said pin remains in initial position in the absence of an article.

32. A machine for threading tape into buttons and like apertured articles including, in combination, an article-registering pin adapted to engage an aperture of an article, means for moving an article and the pin engaging the same from an initial into threading position, tape-feeding means, and means whereby the movement of said pins renders effective the operation oi said tapefeeding means.

33. A machine for threading tape into buttons and like apertured articles including, in combination, an article-registering pin adapted to engage, an aperture of an article, means for feeding an article and the pin engaging the same from an initial into threading position, tape-feeding means, a'tape-guide normally directing the tape out of the path of operation of said tape feeding means. and means whereby the operation of said article'registering pin permits the tape-guide to direct the tape into the path of operation of said feeding means.

34:. A machine for threading tape into buttons and like apertured articles including, in combination, a tape-guide, tapefeeding means, tape-severing means, and means for preventing said severing means from severing the tape in the absence of an article from threading position.

In testimony whereof. we have signed our names to this specification.

GEORGE M. EAMES.

JOHN C. RINGE. 

